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Payroll in Germany
Payroll in Germany runs in EUR on a monthly cycle, with statutory employer contributions and often 13th (customary). Gracemark operates it end-to-end — humans, not tickets.
Currency
EUR — Euro
Payroll cycle
Monthly
Working week
40 hrs (48 max)
Minimum wage
~€13.90/hr
13th-month
Often 13th (customary)
Employer cost
~21.84% social security
Probation
6 months typical
Notice period
4 wks–7 months by tenure
Two ways to run payroll in Germany
Own-entity payroll
For long-term presence in Germany. Gracemark manages statutory filings, pay runs, and year-end reporting under your entity — with a named operator on Western Europe time.
EOR-run payroll
No entity in Germany? Employ and pay talent under Gracemark's local infrastructure via EOR — onboard in 2 weeks (eor), no local incorporation.
Compliance essentials in Germany
- Strict termination protection (Kündigungsschutz) after 6 months / 10+ staff
- Works councils (Betriebsrat) have real co-determination power
- Employer pays 6 weeks of full sick pay before state takes over
- Customary 13th-month and 24–30 days leave to stay competitive
- Strong scrutiny of false self-employment (Scheinselbständigkeit)
Get a payroll quote for Germany
Send your headcount and salary band. We reply with employer burden, net-to-gross, and setup timeline — no sales scripts.
Deeper guide
Hiring guide: Germany →
Employ without entity
EOR services →
All countries
Global payroll overview →